Luminescent Silicon Nanoparticles Formed in Solution

Abstract

This review focuses on the preparation of Si nanoparticles by wet-chemical routes. The methods described include dispersion from porous silicon, etching and surface functionalization of Si/SiO2 powders and direct chemical reaction of Si precursors. Photoluminescence of silicon nanoparticles can be tuned to cover the whole visible spectrum depending on particle size. The excitonic origin or nature of PL has been generally accepted. Some researchers observed exciton recombination across the direct band-gap, i.e., gamma-gamma transitions, while others evidenced indirect nature of excitonic radiative recombination, which becomes direct in very small particles of 1-2 nm. A large redshift of photoluminescence from these small silicon nanoparticles has been explained by a localized surface states model. Others argue that no localized states are found in the band-gap if a complete oxide shell is formed, and the photoluminescence redshift is due to modification of band-edge states.